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Introduction to Counselling Skills
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Introduction to Counselling Skills
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Fourth Edition
  • Richard Nelson-Jones - Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy


November 2012 | 344 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

From leading skills expert Richard Nelson-Jones, this bestselling book is the ideal companion for any trainer or trainee wanting to acquire and develop the counseling skills key to effective therapeutic relationships.

Using an easy to follow, three-stage model, this Fourth Edition provides the answers to those all important questions:

  • What are counseling skills and why are they important?
  • How can I become more skilled and put the skills I have learnt into practice?
  • What skills will help me manage crises and work effectively with diversity, ethical issues and dilemmas?
  • How can I help my client to develop their own self-helping skills and maintain change after the counseling relationship has terminated?

Accessible, practical and concise, this new edition is packed full of up-to-date case examples, more material on self-care and diversity, as well as a brand new chapter on "Using Technology in Counselling". This is the ideal text for introductory courses in counseling skills, counseling and other professional areas including health care, management, education and social work.



 
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
 
Who Are Counsellors and Helpers?
 
Creating Communication Skills and Feelings
 
Creating Mind Skills
 
The Counselling and Helping Process
 
Counselling and Helping Relationships
 
PART TWO: THE RELATING STAGE
 
Understanding the Internal Frame of Reference
 
Showing Attention and Interest
 
Reflecting Feelings
 
Starting the Counselling and Helping Process
 
Managing Resistance and Making Referrals
 
PART THREE: THE UNDERSTANDING STAGE
 
Assessing Feelings and Physical Reactions
 
Assessing Thinking
 
Assessing Communication and Actions
 
Challenges, Feedback and Self-Disclosure
 
Monitoring, Summarizing and Identifying Skills
 
PART FOUR: THE CHANGING STAGE
 
Helping to Solve Problems
 
Coaching Skills: Speaking, Demonstrating and Rehearsing
 
Improving Communication and Actions
 
Improving Thinking
 
Negotiating Homework
 
Conducting Middle Sessions
 
Terminating Counselling and Helping
 
PART FIVE: FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
 
Relaxation Interventions
 
Managing Crises
 
Multicultural and Gender-Aware Counselling and Helping
 
Ethical Issues and Dilemmas
 
Training Groups, Supervision and Support
 
Using Technology in Counselling
 
Becoming More Skilled and Human

'I was taught counselling skills by Richard Nelson-Jones almost forty years ago. Buy this book. He know what he is talking about!' -
Windy Dryden is a Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies and Programme Co-ordinator of the MSc in Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at Goldsmiths, University of London


This is a good practical book for all conselling students and anyone in a helping role wanting to improve their listening skills. Well structured, this book is also clearly written and full of useful examples and exercises that guide the reader on the effective application of counselling skills.

Mrs Ana Paula Wellbrook
Counselling and Psychology, City Lit
February 4, 2020

A really informative and accessible text for students commencing on a counselling skills training.

Mrs Della Austin
School of Education and Community, Glyndwr University
October 27, 2016

This book contains useful examples and exercises that will be beneficial for learners on an introductory counselling training course

Mrs Julie Clayton
Adult Education, St Vincent College
March 3, 2016

Excellent, essential reading for both students and lecturers on any counselling and psychotherapy course. Excellent case histories illustrating the use of each skill along with a comprehensive definition of the skills.

Ms Eilish McGuinness
Counselling & Psychotherapy Department, PCI College
October 3, 2015

We have found the book to be easily understandable for our first year students, but still useful for our honors level classes. Faculty members have also found it to be beneficial in the conceptualization of new modules and in the updating of old ones.

Mr Richard Mee
Psychology, Cornerstone Institute
September 25, 2014

Ideal for the more advanced learners in my class.

Mrs Janet Macfarlane
Higher Education, Accrington & Rossendale College
August 28, 2014

good as counseling skills is included in communication module comprehensive bood

Mrs Margaret Gough
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University
May 19, 2014

A broad, well explained introductory text, very accessible for students

Ms Caroline Hickman
Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath
January 9, 2014

A good introductory text outlining many core concepts.

Mr Paul McCreary
Department of Mental Health Nursing, Bucks New University
December 18, 2013
  • New chapter by Jane Evans
  • More case studies from multi-cultural settings
  • Annotated bibliography

Richard Nelson-Jones